OPEN AT LAST
Report & photographs by Patrick Trollope

THE long awaited opening of the “Marine Way Bridge” happened on Friday (14 May) at 11:00am.  It was opened by Churchtown Primary School pupil Robecca Petrie (winner of the name the bridge competition), The Mayor of Sefton, and Councillor David Pearson, BBC Radio Merseyside, Dune FM, Banks Brass Band and Southport’s councilors. 

With blue sky above, the bridge was opened to a fan fair and the simultaneous unveiling of 2 plaques. One revealed by Rebecca Petrie and the other by the Mayor. One of the plaques has Rebecca Petrie engraved on it. Then it was a march across the 120m Bridge, with band leading followed by the VIP’s and public following behind.   The VIP's then went off to a reception in the Floral Hall. 

The bridge is made of 18,000 tones of concrete and has 31 miles of cables running through it. The anchor block at the top weighs an amazing 60 tones and required a 500 tonne crane to hoist it on to its resting place, way above the bridge deck.

One of the locals residents, Michael Spencer, who was one of the first to cross, said:- “It has been a really great atmosphere and a fantastic way to open what is now a dominant part of the Sefton sky line. I am pleased to have been able to see it opened.”

Rebecca Petrie said:- “I am very pleased to be picked to open it. The bridge is really nice.”